The Husbandmans Companion, Meditation 90
Upon leaves falling in Autumn.
90. Med.
WHen I obſerved in autumn after a nipping froſt, ſeconded by a guſt of winde, how faſt the leaves fell from the trees, that in a ſhort time thoſe that were cloathed in a luſty green, began to look withered, dead and dry, and to put on their winter coat, methought this reſembled much our mortality, when the autumn of age comes upon us, theſe bodies of ours like leaves fall of themſelves into deaths lap, but ſeldom do they hang on ſo long, ſome caſual accident or other oft bears them down before they wither; ofttimes ſome common calamity, as the ſword, or peſtilence, or other contagious diſeaſe, like a violent tempeſt, doth bear all down before it: two hundred thouſand together in Ireland, and very many in England, death mowed down in a few days, where they fell as leaves before the winde, or as corn before the reapers hook; it is noted, that in one years ſpace, a hundred thouſand fell in our chief city, blown down by the blaſt of death, and thus in all the world throughout, men are ſwept away, as with a ſweeping ſtorm, ſome few are gathere in in a good old age, but the moſt of men blown down while they are yet green: the falling of theſe leaves did alſo ſeem to me to reſemble the apoſtacy, and downfall of hypocrites, the houſe of whoſe profeſſion is built upon the ſand, and cannot reſiſt the winde and waves; this is a fooliſh builder that neither ſat down firſt to reckon the charges, neither was at the coſt to lay a firm foundation, neither conſidered, the rain would fall, the windes blow, and the flouds beat, and overthrow his buildings: they follow Chriſt as a dog follows his maſter, ti…l he meets with carion, and then turns him up: as Orphah made a fair proffer of going along with Naomi, but better conſidering, returned back: It is noted of the cheſunt, if it be not broken at the top when eaſt into the fire, it leaps out again, ſo doth a hypocrite when he comes to be tried, he is like a falſe jade in a teem, which being put to a ſtreſs, turns tail and tramples, but the godly hold on and perſiſt: In the ſummer when the ſun of the goſpel ſhines upon them, they hold on, and look freſh and fragrant, and ſeem to be not only members, but pillars of the Church, as the Apoſtles had a good opinion of Judas, ſo that they rather miſtruſted themſelves then him, and cryed out, Maſter, is it I; ſo true believers rather miſtruſt themſelves then thoſe forward profeſſors, yet in perſecuting times theſe fall as leaves before the winde, and wither as the corn on the ſtony ground, or that which grows upon the hoſe top, and diſcover a fruitleſs bulk, and withering root; the ſtony ground received the word with joy, and endured for a while, but when the ſun was up, they were quickly offended: Herod may hear the word gladly, and endure for a time, but being not ſound at the heart, he fals off: a branch in a moiſt place though it have no root, may for a while bud and leave, but when heat comes will certainly wither, and the leaves fall: when Chriſtianity is in credit, many will cry Hoſanah to the ſun of David, and when in contempt they will cry, crucify; a hypocrite, will be catching at comforts as children do at ſweet-meats, ere they are ſoundly humbled, and are ſtuffing themſelves pillows with the promiſes, that they may ſin more ſecurely: when the Jews were in ſavour, many turn Jews for fear of the Jews; and when in danger, their ſeeming friends prove their ſoreſt enemies, they are profeſſors upon deſigne, and they will be religious while religion ſuits their intereſt, and promotes their advantage, but when it hinders them, they lay it aſide, as the workman doth the tool he needs not, or will not ſerve his turn, and takes another; if profaneſs, yea perſecution ſerves his deſigne better, he will make uſe of that; if a few prayers, or outſide duties, which are like to coſt them little, they are content to go to heaven this way, but if it come to ſufferings or forſaking any thing for Chriſt, vadet Chriſtus cum ſuo Evangelio, let Chriſt go with his goſpel, and keep his heaven to himſelf, for he will have none of it; they will not buy heaven at ſo dear a rate: The Goſpel hath many ſwallow-friends, which will be gone at the approach of winter: when the corn is gone, the rats leave the barn, and when no ſecular advantage is in ſight, but rather ſtorms appearing, many profeſſors will be no longer religious, but Chriſt tells us, he that loveth father or mother, ſon or daughter more then him, is not worthy of him, Mat. 10.37. becauſe he holdeth any one worthy of more love then Chriſt: God will ſet no lower a rate on his ſon and glory, he that will have this pearl muſt part with all, Mat. 13.44.45. and he that doth ſo, makes a good bargain; we cannot buy this gold too dear, or give too much for heaven and happineſs; he that thinks to graſp and hold both heaven and earth in the ſame hand, and lodge them in the ſame heart, may as well imagine he can reconcile fire and water, and hide them together in the ſame boſome; when two men walk together, we know not whoſe ſervant it is that follows them, but when they part the ſervant owns his own Maſter: oh my ſoul, take heed of diſſembling with God, that will not be mocked; cloſe with him, and he will cloſe with thee; build upon the rock, ſo ſhalt not thou be ſhaken, and though at death thy body fall like a leaf, yet thy root ſhall remain: oh my God, let me not deceive my ſelf, let me lay a good foundation, then ſhall I ſtand in all ſtorms.